May 08, 2017
Hapu taught to read ancient landscape
Otago University archaeologists want iwi and marae to take charge of managing the archaeological landscape.
The university is working Ngati Kahungunu’s Pukehou Marae, Kahuranaki Marae and the Kairakau Land Trust in central Hawke’s Bay on a pilot to show hapu how to read the landscape with an archaeologist’s eye.
Professor Richard Walker says that reveals a lot more cultural material that trained observers can then record.
He says archaeological and cultural heritage is steadily being lost because of development, coastal erosion, and other natural forces.
"It’s being lost mainly because people don't know it is there and if we don't know it is there we can't manage it so this is the key to what we are doing here. We are working along coastlines trying to understand exactly what is there and giving iwi and marae-base groups the resources to take control and try to manage it themselves," Professor Walker says.
Omaio ki Tua has been funded by the Department of Conservation through its Community Conservation Partnerships programme.
PROFESSOR RICHARD WALKER INTERVIEW
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